Last week, tED magazine introduced a new column that was created to bring you some positive news because – let’s face it – we could all use some of that today.
It’s called “The Good Stuff”, and today we’re going to highlight a couple of the “Good Stuff” stories we’ve received from you, our readers.
Our first bit of news comes from City Electric Supply in Tampa, Florida:
For two decades, City Electric Supply Land O’Lakes Outside Sales Rep Jim Dahmer has put aside cash to buy holiday gifts for his customers as a way to say thank you for their business. But he decided to do things a little differently this past December. Dahmer donated his holiday gift budget to nonprofit organizations in Tampa.
The idea came to him when he spotted the food line outside of Metropolitan Ministries.
“Driving past Metropolitan Ministries, I saw a lot of people in line to get food. I saw people from every walk of life affected, and it broke my heart,” said Dahmer. “Instead of giving something to the guys who are working, I donated that money to charities. My customers thought it was a great idea, too.”
And the customers were not only supportive of his decision, they even requested to join Dahmer’s mission the following year. “We all wanted the money to go where it could do the most good. I donated to the Humane Society and the Children’s Home Network here in Tampa,” said Dahmer.
That act of kindness encouraged others who knew Dahmer to also give back, including one of his customers who decided to also give back to a local nonprofit as a gift to him.
“Wayne Morrow of KW Morrow and Sons Electric was already giving to Feeding America,” said Dahmer. “When he heard what I did, he used the money he would have put toward a gift for me to donate to them. I was glad. I just know the money will go further with an organization like that.”
Our next story comes from Electri-Flex Company, headquartered in Roselle, Illinois:
Electri-Flex partnered with SCARCE and Meals on Wheels of DuPage County to donate and distribute 1,000 Thanksgiving Day meals to local community residents in need last holiday season. The food drive was sponsored by Electri-Flex Company, the Roselle Police Association Foundation, the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office, Lisle Township, and SCARCE.
The quantity of food donated by local businesses, Electri-Flex employees, and community members was outstanding. A freezer truck was required to house 1,000 frozen turkeys. Other donations include cans of corn, cranberries, boxes of stuffing, broiler pans, green beans, chili, peas, black beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, rice, gravy, potatoes, macaroni, soup, yams, and more. SCARCE and the DuPage County Sheriff’s SWAP teams sorted, boxed, and distributed these 1,000, ready-to-cook Thanksgiving Day meals to the community in the days and weeks leading up to this Holiday.
Send us your “Good Stuff”. If you work with someone who is helping other people, or a group of co-workers is creating better outcomes, we want to know about it.
We want names. We want pictures. We want details.
We want to know about your positive stories, so please send them, along with photos if you have them, to Online Editor, Nicky Herron at nherron@naed.org or Editorial & Web Assistant, Marie Jakle at mjakle@naed.org.
Stay tuned for more of “The Good Stuff” — we hope to receive more from you!
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